Improvement in treating leather



UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH BURRILL, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, A. S.

' MOORE, AND J. A. JOHNSON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN TREATING LEATHER, 84C.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 42,619, dated May 3, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JOSEPH BURRILL, of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Process for Treating Leather and Paper; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, whereby those skilled in the art will be enabled to fully understand and use it.

The object of this invention is to render coarse, soft, and nearly useless leather (obtained inpretty large quantities in the usual tanning process) firm and as good as the best leather in use.

It is a well-known fact to tanners and dealers in leather that by the powerful astrin gents employed in the usual process of tanning those parts of the hide which are of loose texture become soft, flabby, and will rapidly absorb water, thereby rendering the leather nearly useless; but by the application of my process to this quality of leather precipitated gelatine is returned to it as acomposition, and thereby it acquires the firmness and all other desirable qualities of the best leather. My process is applicable, however, to leather of every description, and even the best leather is improved by it, rendering it less liable to absorb water rapidly and making it wear longer than it otherwise would.

In order to execute my process I dissolve gelatine in a weak solution of hemlock-bark, nut-gall, or any other substance containing tannin. The solution of bark or other substance, which at first is very weak, and in quantity just enough to dissolve the glue, is

gradually strengthened and added in small quantities until the mixture is brought to the proper consistence. This consistence is obtained by using the ingredients in about the following proportions: gelatiue, two parts; solution of hemlock-bark or other substance containing tannin, one part. To this mixture I add a small quantity of soap and water and saturate the leather. In a few minutes, after the leather has been saturated, I immerse it in a weak solution of hemlock-bark or other tannin, alum, and 'water, composed as follows: hemlock bark or other tannin, one

pound; alum, one-half a pound; water, four gallons. I then add a large quantity of alum, about half a pound to the gallon of the pre' vious solution, and after the leather has lain twenty-four hours I dip it again, and after it has lain from six to twelve hours longer it is dried in the shade.

The same process is applicable to paper, and by its use the soft flabby leather is rendered firm, and paper treated by my process becomes strong, durable, and partially impervious to water.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The within-described process of treating leather or paper by exposing it to the solutions herein set forth, and mixed together substantially in the manner and about in the proportionspecified.

JOSEPH BURRILL.

Vitnesses:

WM. HOWLAND, A. W. BARNARD. 

